Thermal　absorbers　and　their　integration　methods　are　critical　to　solar　photovoltaic/thermal　(PV/T)　modules.　These　two　elements　directly　influence　the　cooling　effort　of　PV　layers　and　as　a　result,　the　related　electrical/thermal/overall　efficiency.　This　paper　conducts　a　critical　review　on　the　essential　thermal　absorbers　and　their　integration　methods　for　the　currently-available　PV　modules　for　the　purpose　of　producing　the　combined　PV/T　modules.　A　brief　overview　of　different　PV/T　technologies　is　initially　summarized,　including　aspects　of　their　structure,　efficiencies,　thermal　governing　expressions　and　their　applications.　Seven　different　types　of　thermal　absorbers　and　four　corresponding　integration　methods　are　subsequently　discussed　and　summarized　in　terms　of　their　advantages/disadvantages　and　the　associated　application　for　various　PV/T　modules.　Compared　to　traditional　thermal　absorbers,　such　as　sheet-and-tube　structure,　rectangular　tunnel　with　or　without　fins/grooves　and　flat-plate　tube,　these　four　types,　i.e.　micro-channel　heat　pipe　array/heat　mat,　extruded　heat　exchanger,　roll-bond　heat　exchanger　and　cotton　wick　structure,　are　promising　due　to　the　significant　enhancement　in　terms　of　efficiency,　structure,　weight,　and　cost　etc.　The　appropriate　or　suitable　integration　method　varies　in　different　cases,　i.e.　the　ethylene-vinyl　acetate　(EVA)　based　lamination　method　seems　the　best　option　for　integration　of　PV　layer　with　thermal　absorber　when　compared　with　other　conventional　methods,　such　as　direct　contact,　thermal　adhesive　and　mechanical　fixing.　Finally,　suggestions　for　further　research　topics　are　proposed　from　five　aspects.　The　overall　research　results　would　provide　useful　information　for　the　assistance　of　further　development　of　solar　PV/T　modules　with　high　feasibility　for　widespread　application　in　energy　supply　even　at　district　or　city-level　in　the　near　future.